Dave at Night by Gail Carson Levine

scattered.
    It was Mr. Meltzer. “I told you to go to sleep. I’m sitting right outside the door. If I hear so much as loud breathing, you get no meals tomorrow.”
    â€œHow’s Alfie?” Eli asked.
    â€œJust go to sleep.” Mr. Meltzer turned out the lights and slammed the door.
    This time everybody stayed in bed. Even though I’d been up most of last night, I couldn’t fall asleep. The bump throbbed, and I felt like the milkman’s horse and cart had ridden over me.
    I rolled onto my stomach to get more comfortable, but that was worse. I rolled back.
    Solly might take me when I ran away for good. I could help him. I could feed Bandit. I could groan when he needed a groaner. I’d ask him when we met for Irma Lee’s party.
    But how could I go to the party? I wouldn’t be able to get out. Mr. Meltzer would be watching me like a hawk.
    In the middle of the night I woke up from a dream. I’d dreamed I was in a room with a coffin. I went up to it and saw that Papa was inside. He sat up. I said, “You’re alive!” But he said, “No, I’m dead.” And I thought, this isn’t so bad if I can still talk to him when he’s dead.
    Then I woke up. My blanket had fallen off, and I was freezing, except for the bump on my head, which felt hot. I had to go to the toilet. Mr. Meltzer was right outside the door, wide awake. He escorted me to the toilet and waited till I was done.
    I woke up once more before morning. Mr. Meltzer was standing over me. I sat up, scared.
    â€œGo back to sleep,” he said. “I was just making sure you hadn’t gone anywhere.”
    Â 
    Alfie was waiting for us at our table when we got to breakfast. Before the bullies came, he showed us the bag of rock candy the nurse had given him. He said he’d share it at recess. And then he sat on the bag, so the bullies wouldn’t see it.
    When Moe arrived and saw my bandages, he didn’t want his penny back. “It’s unlucky. Good thing I loaned it to you or I might have depended on it.”
    â€œSee, Moe,” Eli said from across the table, “good deeds pay off. If you left our food alone, you might get even luckier.”
    â€œNah. I don’t think so.”
    I left the basement surrounded by my buddies. On the stairs Mike was bobbing next to me, and Eli was right behind me. Eli said, “So what happened after you went through the park?”
    â€œI saw—”
    â€œUh-oh,” Eli said softly.
    I looked up. Mr. Doom stood on the landing above us. I turned to run back downstairs.
    Mike caught my arm. “Don’t run,” he whispered.
    â€œDon’t run,” Eli whispered.
    â€œGood morning, boys,” Mr. Doom boomed.
    â€œGood morning, sir,” everybody said. Everybody but me. I moved my lips, but nothing came out.
    â€œHaving fun with your pals, boys?”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    He saw me and started down the steps. Boys flattened themselves against the stairway walls to let him by. There were a million boys behind me. I couldn’t run. He came closer, step by step. I fought to keep my breakfast down.
    â€œWhat’s this, son?” He touched the bandage on my neck.
    I jumped down a step. Didn’t he know he gave it to me? Eli and Mike were mouthing words at me. I couldn’t tell what they were saying.
    Mr. Doom’s face started getting red. “Don’t you know how to answer—”
    â€œA cut, sir. Just a cut, sir.” My voice was a squeak.
    â€œThat’s better. I hope you got it from playing, not from fighting.”
    â€œFrom playing, sir.”
    â€œBe more careful next time. I can’t have my boys hurting themselves. Now get going, or you’ll miss your studies.”
    I stumbled up the stairs. Didn’t he recognize me? Was he that blind even with his glasses on? Had he beaten up so many boys that we all looked alike to him? Or was he completely nuts?

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